Clinic Speak: swallowing problems in MS

Do you have a swallowing problem? Another unrecognised problem that needs addressing. #ClinicSpeak #MSBlog #MSResearch

"Our guest post on dysphagia and choking generated some interesting comments. Despite this being an issue most of you want to avoid thinking about, and discussing, it is a problem that affects a large number of MSers and has treatment and management implications."



"Dysphagia simply means discomfort or difficulties in swallowing. It can occur with solids and liquids and when severe can lead to aspiration, i.e. food goes down the trachea into the airways, or choking when it blocks the airway. Dysphagia usually occurs when MS is advance and associated with severe disability, but it can occur earlier in the disease as a result of a brain stem relapse. The brain stem is the part of the brain that controls swallowing. The study below from Brazil found dysphagia in 90% of the MSers they studied; this is a surprising result considering the average EDSS in this study was just below 4.0. Based on my own clinical experience 90% seems very high, unless I am missing dysphagia because I am not looking for it. Why it important to address this? Prevention. Dysphagia is the forerunner of aspiration pneumonia, a common cause of admission in MS and a common cause of death in advanced MS. As part  of a holistic approach to MS we need to try and prevent aspiration pneumonia. I would therefore appreciate it if you could complete the following short survey; it includes a short dysphagia self-assessment."



"If after completing this survey you think you have a swallowing problem please discuss it with your neurologist or MS nurse. You may need a formal assessment to investigate the problem."

Fernandes et al.  Oropharyngeal dysphagia in patients with multiple sclerosis: do the disease classification scales reflect dysphagia severity? Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 2013 Aug;79(4):460-5.


BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis is a neurological disease that involves swallowing disorders. Many studies have shown an association between neurological and swallowing performance, but results have been conflicting.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the frequency of dysphagia in MSers and neurological indicators that can represent the performance of swallowing.

METHOD: In this study (cross-sectional) 120 MSers underwent Functional Assessment of Swallowing by flexible nasal-pharyngo-laryngoscopy and the results were compared with the scores of the rating scales: (Clinical Evolving Forms of Disease, Functional Disability Scale for and Scale Systems Extended Functional Disability [Kurtzke Expanded Disability Status Scale]).

RESULTS: Dysphagia was found in 90% of MSers. Among the clinical forms of the disease, the progressive forms (primary progressive and secondary progressive) were more frequently associated with severe dysphagia, while the relapsing-remitting form presented more often mild and moderate dysphagia. Regarding the Disability Scale for Functional Systems, cerebellar function, brainstem function and mental health were associated with dysphagia, especially in the severe form. Regarding the Extended Functional Disability Scale, higher scores were associated with severe dysphagia.

CONCLUSION: Dysphagia is common in MSers, especially in those with greater impairment of neurological functions.

Labels: ,